33.01: Asylum of the Daleks (May Contain Spoiler for Future Episodes)

[Dave]

Well, I did watch it...

Zombie Daleks

This may be the Jump the Shark moment for me.

 

[thaddeus6th]

As it's New Who, maybe 'nuked the fridge' is more apt?

Actually, I didn't mind that too much. What got me was a Parliament of daleks. And a Prime Minister.

.....

Do they have a Chancellor of the Exchequer too?

The big twist was fairly obvious, but still worked alright, but the central premise of the plot (they need to go to the prison planet to blow it up but the daleks are 'scared' to and want it blowing up because some of the prisoners might escape) was rubbish.

That said, nice to see the daleks were proper rather than teletubby models.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Well...

Was it enjoyable?

Yes.

Steve Moffat said in an interview that he wanted to do something different this year, drop the convoluted story arcs and just give the viewer some rip roaring adventures that were just fun and catering to the sense of fun and adventure that is in the hearts of the audience. In this instance it was allegedly lets get every Dalek seen on TV and squeeze them all into one episode.

He also said that this was going to probably upset the older long term fans, the hardcore ones, because much as he was one of the hardcore himself, he realised that his job now is writing for the people who watch now. DW is a show that draws in 10 million viewers each week and the majority of them don't give a damn about Sensorites, Drahvins or Mechanoids, the Rani or Scarroth last of the Jaggeroth, they just want to tune in, go 'wow' and tune out.

And that is what we have.

For myself I can see it in two lights, the first being as a long time Doctor Who fan, and for me it was painful to watch,certain elements just really grated and got on my nerves something chronic - the worst being the repeated "Doctor Who?" at the end.

On the other hand I try and see it through the eyes of Perp Jr. Mk1, and I just see the awe stricken wonder of Daleks and fast moving fun and... well it just works.

Putting all that aside though, the most important thing for me and most intriguing, was the little bit of information that seemed to have been hidden from the viewing public (and IMDB) was the character of Oswin played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.

The actress is of course the new companion, but all press releases have her listed as starting at Christmas and being squeezed in here is a surprise to say the least.

Of course her name is given as Clara when she appears as the companion, but there is almost certainly more at play.

So a bit of thinking is required. Is there a connection?

Moffat has said that there will be something different and unexpected about the new companion, giving us something we have never seen before.

Dave talked about jumping the shark - and this could be a real move in that direction. Could he be brave/mad/stupid enough to give us a Dalek companion? One with the consiosness of a human inside - so we see the Dalek - but interact with Coleman when seeing from her perspective?

Or maybe it could be the Doctor having a companion travelling with himwho he knows is doomed from the start?

 

[thaddeus6th]

I didn't know she was the new companion.

Must say I rather liked her.

I'd guess the latter will be the case, but a dalek companion could have comedy potential.

 

[The Ace]

Sorry but I loved this bit;

Dalek - Self-destruct cannot be countermanded.

Doctor - I'm not looking for self-destruct, I'm looking for reverse.

Dalek (rushing backwards at a rate of knots) - Forward! Forward !

KA -BOOOOOOM!!!

 

[HoopyFrood]

I was surprises to see her in this episode and I'll be intrigued to see how they explain it all later! No One said it'll be interesting if they end up giving the Doctor a Dalek companion! I prefer the name Oswin, she should keep it.

And after tonight's performance, move over already Ponds, let Oswin in! If she stays the same, I love her already.

I want to watch the episode again, mostly for her bits. I knew the Ponds would end up having their loving make up (and also couldn't help thinking what about adoption) but I didn't think about Oswin aw Dalek until the camera was panning around, even with all the clues.

If I think about it all too much, some things might make me a little miffed (the age old hatred between doctor and daleks erased so easily!) but mostly, eh, Doctor Who's back and it still keeps me thoroughly entertained for fifty glorious minutes!

 

[Lenny]

Having seen the blurbs for the episodes on Wikipedia, I decided that next weeks episode is going to be the one that annoys me the most, and I found that this weeks wasn't as bad as I expected... apart from hammy acting, awful plot elements, and some shockingly bad writing.

Daleks in human clothing? What (though I liked the zombie touch)?!

Doctor Who? Doctor Who? Doctor Who? For real?!

"We can't destroy something so beautiful. Anyway, we're too scared to do it, so we'll send you down to disable the force-field so we can nuke them from orbit". Did anyone do a proof-read?

Travel by gravity stream? I know, let's send the Doctor and co. down to the planet using the galaxy's worst transportation system, although we have teleportation devices THAT CAN BEAM INTO A FREAKIN' TARDIS.

And yes, Moffat, we get it, you're aroused by wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff like showing us the demise of people, who end up being key characters, before the Doctor meets them for their first time... sure, we know their end from the go, but why should it bother us when we can just wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey our way through their history? As much as we have to live with the knowledge of their eventual fate, it also takes away the danger. Oh no, present version of future Dalek is sinking into the lava! It's alright, we know her future, I'm sure the sonic screwdriver will be able to rebuild her crisped legs.

That's another thing! Using the sonic screwdriver to work out if the dessicated corpse is dead? On it's own, it's a: "Duuuuuuude, seriously? It's a dessicated corpse", but if we accept that the sonic screwdriver is used for such things, how can we expect to believe that the damn thing didn't mention they were ZOMBIE DALEKS?!

However, the setting was nice, as was the set des...er...CGI, and I'm somewhat glad that the next companion isn't from the UK (or Earth, as it seems... unless there's more BS timey-wimey stuff).

Oh, there's another thing. Is it just me, or is every primary character the same damn character? The Doctor, Amy, River, and now Oswin - hyperactive, quirky, danger-seeking, fast-talking... ARGH! What happened to the bumbling fool of Rory? Can we get RTD back? I want an angry cynic. I want someone who avoids confrontations, and acts with caution. Heavens, I'll even settle for Jackie Tyler...

I fear Moffat has already lost his way. His was best when he was writing the odd episode to save us from RTD. I don't care if the show is supposed to be for kids, why can't we have good writing and spectacle?

Still, as I said, I expected it to be worse. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to try and force myself to believe that Nefertiti, an Edwardian explorer, the Ponds, Rory's father, Filch, and a freakin' spaceship inhabited by freakin' dinosaurs is going to turn out to be nowhere near as atrociously terrible as it looks.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Well, I watched half the marathon of last season leading up to this one (wasn't getting up at 5 am to watch from the start), and then actually got to watch the new episode in peace (hid in the bedroom with the kids on the other side of the door).

I liked it, but I'm a sucker for every episode I've seen so far, which is all of the modern seasons with the exception of the last David Tennant one. I love Matt Smith, but I still can't bring myself to watch the last of David Tennant happening. Yes, that's weird. Anyway, I know it's probably also weird to like every episode, but I'm an addict. It's what I do.

I do hope it's a misleading statement to say that this season isn't going to have an over-reaching story arc -- I especially love those.

It will certainly help the Doctor in his goal of "staying quiet" if the Daleks have all forgotten him!

Just waiting now till it's time to watch it again at 10.

 

[HareBrain]

My longer post would have been like Lenny's, except it was worse than I expected because I'm an optimist.

Did the daleks (or Moffat) not have access to a dictionary when they decided on the epithet "Predator"? Since when has the Doctor eaten daleks or pillaged from them for resource? Oh, but it sounds good so who cares if it makes sense -- sums up the whole episode really.

 

[Dave]

I was surprises to see her in this episode and I'll be intrigued to see how they explain it all later! No One said it'll be interesting if they end up giving the Doctor a Dalek companion! I prefer the name Oswin, she should keep it.

Nowhere has it been said that this will be the same character.

In fact, Dr Who rumour being what it is, if she had got the job when this episode was being made, then it would already have been announced weeks ago in Newspapers like "The Sun" with her draped naked over a Dalek. More likely that they just liked her work and then gave her the job when the position of new companion came up much later.

This has precedent. Lalla Ward was Princess Astra before becoming Romana. Colin Baker was Commander Maxil before becoming The Doctor (of course, they were Time Lords who could change their appearance so further explanation will be required.)

...is every primary character the same damn character? The Doctor, Amy, River, and now Oswin - hyperactive, quirky, danger-seeking, fast-talking... ARGH!

Simply put - Yes, but they have to be to keep up with the pace of the stories - which are also hyperactive, quirky, danger seeking, fast-plotted, lets-get-on-quickly-to-the-next-scene-oh-no-now-its-next-week-already-take-a-breath...

I still rue the demise of Doctor Who as a Serial. Seriously, all that running up and down corridors and caves but going absolutely nowhere has made a lasting impression. However, it did have cliffhangers! Isn't just a refection of the 'modern' world where everyone demands everything immediately now! And forgets it just as quickly.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Thing is, this is more than when Martha appeared as a different character briefly (wasn't it explained to be 'her cousin'?) Actually, didn't Amy also appear in the volcano episode, too, before she was companion? But this was a full on appearance, with Oswin, or whoever, getting a hell of a lot of screen time. I think they're going to have to really work it if they're going to make her a different character. Hopefully not just 'she is my twin sister'. Maybe they could make her an alien with unrecognisable make up. Perhaps she hadn't been named companion st this point, but I think Moffat will be better at explaining how it could be the same person rather than trying to make it out as someone else entirely.

But what I considered and what Lenny seems to think, is that we could just meet her at an earlier point in her life.

 

[littlemissattitude]

I have to say I liked this episode much better than I've liked a lot of the Matt Smith episodes. I do like his Doctor; I haven't always liked the writing of his episodes, however.

Was surprised to see the actress who has been touted as the new companion. I agree that it could be a situation where the actress was signed up after playing a different role on the show. On the other hand, I can also see several ways of going forward with her in this character. Not sure I would like all of those ways, but there are ways.

I do have to say that Oswin reminded me a lot of Jenny as far as her line readings, to the point that it made me wonder if there is some connection there. Probably not, but it just seemed a little too coincidental.

 

[Tillane]

Maybe they could make her an alien with unrecognisable make up.

No need. While we saw her, the Doctor didn't; he just heard her voice (which is odd in itself, as I'm not sure how her voice would sound human over the comm system. She was, after all, only human in her "dream").

But what I considered and what Lenny seems to think, is that we could just meet her at an earlier point in her life.

Agreed. I reckon Moff's planned this well in advance, though how he's going to have the Doc bump into her later in the series (I'm assuming he won't go looking for her)...well, it'll have to be cleverly done unless they want the audience to go "really? Really really?"

My own thoughts on the episode: it was preposterous. And full of plot holes. And lots of fun. The Ponds have run their course, and Moff's going to have to do something special to make me sad about them going - which is a shame, because I liked them both in the beginning. It was surprisingly nice to see the Daleks back, and I liked the idea of the puppets, but I don't think enough was made of them. I kind of saw the Dalek memory wipe coming when the Doc told Amy to "make them remember you" at the beginning, and I reckon this probably ties in to the supposed prophecy mentioned by Dorium at the end of the last series (hence all the "Doctor who? Doctor who?" stuff at the end).

Oh, and does anyone seriously believe that there won't be a season arc? No. Me neither.

 

[HoopyFrood]

No need. While we saw her, the Doctor didn't; he just heard her voice (which is odd in itself, as I'm not sure how her voice would sound human over the comm system. She was, after all, only human in her "dream").

I actually meant it for the audience to get around the whole "she looks very familiar!" And thus, not as an actual non-jokey suggestion.

And I agree completely about the ponds, I am happy to see them go now. Which seems to show that I do moan about companions seemingly changing around so quickly and so much, yet I do get bored of them if they're there too long!

 

[Dave]

And I agree completely about the ponds, I am happy to see them go now. Which seems to show that I do moan about companions seemingly changing around so quickly and so much, yet I do get bored of them if they're there too long!

Is it not more because their story has run its course. We have seen Amy from a child to young woman to first job to marriage and first house and on to divorce. They have even both died. What more is there to tell about them?

I admit I forgot about Martha's "cousin". It does show that it is just usual practise to be picked as a companion after being a extra first, but I agree that none of the previous assistants had such a large role, and explaining away that as a "cousin" is harder. You are probably correct that it will be the same character but earlier in her life. It does seem that Moffat is keen on the idea of visiting people earlier in their lives - Amy Pond and River Song, both.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Is it not more because their story has run its course. We have seen Amy from a child to young woman to first job to marriage and first house and on to divorce. They have even both died. What more is there to tell about them?

That is very true, out of all recent companions, we've really seen pretty much everything of these two. That probably is why. I'm looking forward to the change and revelations about new characters.

 

[Harpo]

I liked this episode, always great to see daleks, and it'll be interesting to watch the whole daleks-don't-know-who-from-who scenario unravel over the next however long.

I want to see more of Skaro. What are the chances of seeing Gallifrey again?

 

[TheDustyZebra]

No need. While we saw her, the Doctor didn't; he just heard her voice (which is odd in itself, as I'm not sure how her voice would sound human over the comm system. She was, after all, only human in her "dream").

I wondered about that -- when he got to the room where she was, she sounded like a Dalek, but apparently she hadn't sounded that way before? And she didn't even know she was a Dalek, so she couldn't have been deliberately altering her voice through the speakers.

Oh, and does anyone seriously believe that there won't be a season arc? No. Me neither.

No, I refuse to believe that! I hope it's not true, but I also doubt it's even possible -- I have a lot of faith in Moffat.

But what I considered and what Lenny seems to think, is that we could just meet her at an earlier point in her life.

Wouldn't she have remembered the Doctor, then? Or would that be one of the things that she conveniently forgot in the memory wiping, while remembering how to make souffles and when her mother's birthday was?

 

[Lenny]

Wouldn't she have remembered the Doctor, then? Or would that be one of the things that she conveniently forgot in the memory wiping, while remembering how to make souffles and when her mother's birthday was?

Her sideways look, and grin, at the camera as she said: "Run, you clever boy. And remember", is what makes me think there's something we're not being told. She had quite a look at his files, before she deleted them from the database, so she knows he's capable of, say, ignoring time and saving her before the crash of the Alaska. So it may be that my annoyance with Moffat's wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey fetish was a bit premature, and that when we next see Oswin, she doesn't know the Doctor because he's changing her future. Either that, or he beams in just before the Asylum is being blown to pieces and rescues her. Maybe throws in some kind of de-conversion process to un-Dalekise her, too.

Oh, something else I forgot to say in my first post - Dalek Oswin sounds like Bane... it really put me off.

And another thing! How convenient that the whole nano-conversion thing was forgotten about when Rory realised the Doctor had given Amy his bracelet.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Having had the opportunity to rewatch the episode a few more times, I thought I’d address a few comments that were made – this is just my way of trying to make sense of plot holes, and then add a few things that occurred to me.

It was mentioned that they just dropped the nano-conversion thing after the Doctor slipped his device onto Amy. Well what else was there needed to be said? Amy having a device stopped her decline (perhaps even reversed it) and someone (Rory I think) said that the Doctor was probably immune anyway.

Why were the trio dropped through the shield by the gravity beam when the Dalek’s had teleportation technology? Perhaps the teleport would not go through the shield until it was down. How it went through all the TARDIS shields is another matter, unless the Doctor had a password...

Why did Oswin sound human when talking through over the communicators, and like a Dalek when face to uhhh eye stalk. Bit of a stretch this one, but when talking on the communicator when was talking from inside the dalek shell, so it was unaltered by the speech modulator of the Dalek??? (As an aside I’m pretty sure Clara was cast before they started filming the new series, so there is little chance of it being a case of liking the actress and recasting later, I’m betting there is some kind of plan in motion.)

Mention was made of actresses who played more than one role in the show. We can add Eve Myles to that, who played Gwen Cooper in Torchwood (and in Journey’s End), appeared in an earlier Doctor Who – the one with Charles Dickens – and is linked by the Doctor and Rose as coming from an old Cardiff family.

When the Ponds were coming to term with their marriage collapse and putting things back together the core was the fact that they could not have children (or Amy couldn’t); and although she can’t now it seemed odd that there was no mention made of River/Melody. Just a reference that they had actually had a child together.

I did say about the Season Arc and implied that Moffat had said there would not be one this year, which was bad on my part, he said something more along the lines that there would not be something as intensive as the last two years, that there might be something, but nothing like the crack or Silence.

Now my biggest problem were the Daleks. Where the hell did they all come from? Back at the Victory of the Daleks, there were only three left, and not for the first time they were wiped out, replaced by the new paradigm, of which there were only five. Suddenly we have thousands of the little suckers, with rebuilt space craft and all that, not to mention the organisation that came with it.

And Skaro was meant to be locked in the Time War, so how did the Doctor get to go there? Surely if it is now free the Time War is reopened, the spitting Time Lords are back and all that.

Perhaps the Asylum might not have been sucked into the Time War, and it would have been a fun story to explore it in another way, but what was Skaro doing there?